Summary: On Harry's eighth birthday, he is visited by an older boy with black hair and flashing golden eyes. The boy introduces himself as Merlin Emrys and tells him that he needs his help. Wanting to get away from the Dursley's, Harry goes with Merlin willingly. They travel to the spot where Camelot once lay and Merlin makes a home for them there. For the next eight years, Merlin teaches Harry everything he knows about Magic. On his sixteenth birthday, the two boys re-enter the Wizarding World for one last time. The Savior's return has everyone up in arms but Harry and Merlin do not stay long. They stay only long enough to make absolutely certain that the world knows Albus Dumbledore's wrongdoings before travelling into the past. Harry arrives next to Merlin in Gaius' quarters with only a letter from Merlin himself and his wand. His mission? To change the future of Camelot. Can he save Camelot? Or will he fail?

Prologue

Number 4 Privet Drive

Ten O'Clock P.M.

"Dursley! If you don't open this bloody door, I will blast it open!"

The sound of the man's voice echoed through the empty street, causing several people to open their doors curiously. It had come from a tall, slender man with black hair and a striking face. He stood on the doorstep of Number Four, one hand placed firmly on his hip and the other pounding on the door. After a few moments, the door opened to reveal a rather large man in the most ridiculous looking night clothes. His walrus-like face was quite red and he looked quite comical in all.

"Who the hell are you?!" he snarled.

The man smirked, stepping inside the house with a surprising amount of grace for someone so tall. "My name is Merlin. Merlin Emrys to be exact."

"What do you want? And get out of my house!"

"Oh do shut up, you great prune. I'll leave as soon as I get who I came here for."

"If you want the freak you can have him. He's a nasty little bugger anyways."

Merlin's eyes flashed golden and Vernon Dursley went flying into the wall. When he next spoke, his voice was low and quite dangerous.

"You will never call Harry James Potter a freak again. Now, retrieve him before I spill your guts onto this pretty little floor."

The man gulped and ran for the small cupboard under the stairs. When he came back a moment later, he held the arm of a tiny boy with black hair and striking green eyes. Merlin strode forward and gently lifted the young boy into his arms, glaring all the while at the large Dursley.

"We will be leaving now. Tomorrow morning, you will be visited by a man named Albus Dumbledore. He'll ask you what happened to young Harry and you will tell him that Merlin Emrys has claimed him. You will also assure him that his assistance is no longer needed. Do you understand me?"

"Yes." The man muttered, gulping yet again.

Nodding, Merlin turned to Harry. "Come Harry. We're going home now."

The tiny boy nodded as Merlin hissed a few words in an ancient language. As soon as the words had left his mouth, the two completely disappeared from sight. They arrived in front of an ancient looking castle. Merlin couldn't help but to laugh at Harry's wide eyes as he led the young boy into the palace. Despite its ruined-looking exterior, the inside of the castle was still beautiful. Harry, needless to say was speechless with wonder as he stared around at his surroundings. Merlin led them to a large room and sat Harry down in a comfortable arm chair.

"Who are you?" Harry asked, swinging his legs.

Merlin smiled. "I am known by many names, Harry, but you may call me Merlin."

"Are you a…wizard?"

"I am. And so are you. That's why you are here. I'm going to teach you magic. Magic you could learn from no one but me."

The little boy's eyes lit up. "Really? Oh that would be wonderful!"

Merlin grinned crookedly. "Really. We'll get started in the morning. First, I think you need to sleep. This is my bedroom but you can sleep here tonight. I'll let you pick out your own room tomorrow before we start your studies."

"This is wonderful. Thank you ever so much."

Merlin smiled gently, leading the boy over to a large four poster bed. He tucked him in and kissed his forehead before climbing in on the other side. Merlin knew that he had everything he'd been waiting for in his grasp. Soon, he would change the past. Just a few more years…and he'd already waited a thousand of them. He sighed at the thought of the past thousand years he'd spent without Arthur by his side. It had been too long since he'd last held Arthur, since he'd felt Arthur's gentle touch. Sighing again, Merlin closed his eyes and fell into a restful sleep, the first one in nearly a thousand years.

***Hogwarts***

Albus Dumbledore was beyond furious. He had tried so hard to keep the boy within his grasp and he'd failed. Harry Potter was their last hope, his last hope, and he'd lost him. Lost him to that bloody Mage. Bloody Emrys had won. Albus grabbed his bottle of Fire Whiskey and downed half of it in one swallow. He was so angry he couldn't speak. This was not supposed to happen. Harry was supposed to stay with his Muggle relatives until he was eleven years old when Hagrid would rescue him and bring him to Hogwarts. Harry would grow up enamored with Albus, wanting nothing more than to please him. This…this was a serious wrench in that plan and Albus had to do something to stop it. But what…what could he do? He downed more Fire Whiskey, thinking about what he must do. When the idea came to him he almost couldn't believe it. The old man smirked, pleased with his plan, and called for Severus Snape. Severus entered a few minutes later, looking both tired and slightly bored.

"Can I help you Headmaster?" he asked.

"I need your assistance in a most important matter, Severus."

Severus blinked pointedly. "What is it Albus?"

"I need you to find Merlin Emrys for me."

"Why?" Severus' eyes narrowed suspiciously at this.

"He has Harry Potter, Severus. Lily's son."

At this, Severus rolled his eyes. "I know he does. I also know that the boy was being abused at the Dursley home. Merlin has Harry's best interests at heart."

"Harry is a horcrux, Severus. We cannot allow him to be pulled away from us."

"Merlin knows how to get it out of the scar, Albus. As for defeating Voldemort, I'd no sooner let a child fight the Dark Lord than I'd become a Death Eater. Thanks to Merlin, I no longer have to worry about that future. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to check in on Merlin and Harry. Good day Albus."

Albus sat in his office for over an hour after that, fuming. Without Severus' help, he was screwed.